Hydraulic presses

Tender description

The Advanced Forming Research Centre is a globally recognised centre of excellence in metal forming research, manufacturing technologies and innovation. We are at the heart of Scotland's manufacturing research and development sector and are the country's only High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre; one of only seven in the UK. The Advanced Forming Research Centre is a globally recognised centre of excellence in metal forming research, manufacturing technologies and innovation. We are at the heart of Scotland's manufacturing research and development sector and are the country's only High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre; one of only 7 in the UK. The intention of this exercise is to obtain feedback from interested parties on the provision of a Hydraulic Press, and an integrated manipulator, capable of realising Open die, Close die and Isothermal forging. This equipment will have to be able to deliver the eDNA of the product. The requirement is for a research forge facility to investigate various aspects of open die, closed die and isothermal forging capability. The forge will be based upon a 2000T hydraulic press, supported by manipulator, tool-train and turntable, with the intention of complete versatility. The press is to offer several different forging modes as detailed above, to enable ingot upset and reduction, and to allow vertical extrusion with appropriate tooling if required. The manipulator will allow handling of the ingot between the press and ancillaries equipment, for use in different integrated forging modes. It will collect the ingot from a furnace, operate with the press during forging, and return it in a furnace or on the exit table of the forge. The tool train facility is required to allow selection from a range of lower tools, including flat tool, cutting tool, mandrel on V-tool. The turntable will allow ingot rotation, such that both ends of a bar can be forged. The turntable will deliver bars to the manipulator, and allow full 360 degree rotation in the horizontal plane so that the manipulator can grip either end of the bar. Any future contract opportunities related to this requirement will be published on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) as well as the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). An indicative timetable is provided later in this document. AFRC may use your views/feedback/information when compiling the final tender documents but reserves the right not to accept any feedback/information or comments from any respondent. This decision will be at the sole discretion of AFRC. A draft technical specification will be available.